It was great to see Evan and Grant in their new home!

Updates! It’s been a while since we have given personal updates. We traveled back to the U.S. for a week in November to share two topics at the Proclaim/Serve meeting in Bluffton, Indiana. We presented Child Sponsorship and also Practical Ways to Share Your Faith. We got to stay at Stan & Gloria Hartzler’s home in Orrville, Ohio most of the week and we hung out with Evan & Grant as much as we could! They are renting a house together in Rittman, Ohio with their friend, Joe Smith! It is an older, homey three-bedroom house. In Bluffton, we were blessed to stay with Tom & Sue Neuenschwander and attend the Bluffton Apostolic Christian country church with them.

Evan and Grant live with Joe Smith. Joe is holding one of his birthday presents…a dog pillow!

The boys invited us and Susan Rufener to a Thanksgiving Dinner one night! That was fun!

Enjoying special moments as a family!

The very excited missionary from India that Susie sat by on the plane! What an interesting flight!

We recently went on a short retreat to Coby Beach with lots of HarvestCall board members that were here for a week of work, meetings, research or support. We enjoyed getting to know each of them better! The kids were blessed by the Eric & Jami Hartzler family returning to share a short Bible school with them at the retreat!

Group photo of the current Haiti HarvestCall missionaries!

Eric & Jami Hartzler came down to lead a Bible school for the kids!

The missionary kids in Haiti (including the Hartzlers)!

Game time fun!

Grace and Gracie! Double the Grace!

Trinity is diving into her senior year of school. She has Creole down pretty well, so she has chosen to take French this year! This is Grace’s least favorite subject and it is mandatory at her school. Maybe they can get together? Grace loves it when her mom comes in for devotion time or subbing her class. Susie is glad for the opportunity to step into Grace’s class and enjoys teaching the kids.

Trinity’s senior year is already here! Beautiful photography by Patti Indermuhle.

A wonderful lunch with “Mrs. Tim” and daughters! A lot to share in a short time.

South Haiti Missionaries and visitors, Thanksgiving Day 2016!

Thankful for so many friends in Haiti to support us!

Josette, from the Child Care office, recently got married!

Lazarre is looking a little worried here! (He hasn’t asked for haircut money again since!)

A recent visitor of the unwanted type! (He’s a goner!) He’s kinda cute?

The view “then” and “now” from the back porch. The green has returned!

As we visit schools, we see their effort to save what they can!

It has been difficult to do much at the office without the internet. So we have made some trips into a few areas to survey the damage to schools and churches we support through Child Sponsorship. Then two weeks after the hurricane we had massive flooding following a huge rain, which caused even further damage (and even worse internet problems).

With many buildings lacking roofs, everything keeps getting wet from either rain coming down or flood waters rising! Desks, books and supplies are all ruined. The picture was bleak already in Haiti before the disasters, now they have literally nothing left. Haitian schools traditionally have been little more than crude shelters. Now, they don’t even have that!

Marie Lucie has been busy surveying the damage and taking down information!

Near the coasts, the damage is greater.

This pastor has a problem with every roof!

The church roof came all the way down!

Trying out the new space!

We are still gathering information and it comes in slowly by word of mouth. So far, we estimate that there is damage to roofs and school contents to at least 75% of the schools. Student’s homes are in the same condition; many have lost everything, many are sleeping in other homes and have lost their  livestock, gardens and fruit trees. We are amazed at the determination we see here to keep going in spite of difficulty. We learn a lot from people who have little, but find appreciation for what they still do have.

Within a few short weeks, greenery has reappeared across the storm damaged parts of Haiti! There are many things springing back in a hurry. Life has a way of continuing on even though it may never be quite the same. Circumstances change, but God hasn’t! The work here isn’t so much about the physical and material (although everyone wants that), but much more about our right relationship with God and each other. We continue to warn men of sin and judgment, knowing God is giving them another chance to repent for their sins and seek their Savior. God is waiting for each one to humble themselves before Him!

Many church roofs are nearly gone and some are totally gone!

Many schools are in great disrepair!

Drying everything out…a typical scene that has been repeated often!

With all the calls from sponsors wanting to know about their students, we see your caring and concern. It would be appropriate to send a gift of money with your subsequent payment(s). The students and their families would be most appreciative as they continue to have many needs. Thanks to all of you that already have done so! Thanks for all your support and prayers. They mean a lot!

We see signs of new life springing up all over!

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10